Anonymous on Article XXII: Of Purgatory

N this Militant State, in which every one of us are oblig’d to work out our Salvation, we mult endeavour to purify our selves more and more from all Filthinels of Flesh and Spirit; that when | we come to dye, we may be presented acceptable in the Blood of

Jesus. For, If a Man purge himself from these, he (hall

be a Gessel unto Honour, and need not the Assistance of a pu- rifying Fire, to prepare him for Glory.

Which may direct us to the Twenty Second Article, which says, The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshi “ ping and Adoration, as well of linages as of Relicks, and also In- vocation of Saints, is a fond Thing, vainly invented, and ground- ed upon no Warranty of Scripture , but rather repugnant to the

• Word of God. In this we may perceive, what Opinion our

Church hath of Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping of Images, Re- licks, and Invocation of Saints. Every one of them is called Fond, vainly Invented, and grounded upon no Warrant of Scripture. |

shall therefore justify our Church’s Censure of them, as I call them

over again in their Order.

I. Purgatory is a fond Invention, not fit to be seriously regarded:

For it is fancied to be a fiery Furnace, capable of receiving a vast Number of Souls, in which they are to be purg’d and cleans’d for a certain Time in the Flames of it : And then they are to be allow’d a free Passage into the Eternal Heavens. In sure and certain Belief of this, the Papists pray for the Souls of their deceased Friends, and hope that by their Importunity they are either deliver’d from, or, at least, eas’d in their Torments. This Fancy our Church calls Fond

and Foolish, or Vain and Unprofitable : For if these Souls, which

are suppos’d to go thither, are in.fome Measure Pious, to what Pur- pose are they sent thither ; for they are then sanctify’d; and if san- aify’d, they are justify’d, and freed from Condemnation. And as they are forgiven in the Blood of Jesus, nothing can be laid to their Charge ; unless a Christian can be forgiven and punith’d for the same Crimes. St. Paul shews you, how fond and ridiculous this is, when he says, There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spi-

1 2. Pur-

Rom. 8. 1.

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Article 2. Purgatory is vainly invented, or set forth to no good Purpose; XXII. for thereby those that live and dye in Sin, are put in Hopes of be- img purify’d after Death; and in Expectation of this, they presume so much upon the Divine Goodness, till they awake in Hell, and l are put beyond Recovery. Besides, it is no other than a vain Inventi- 5 on, which hath no Support from Reason or Revelation; for our own Reason will tell us, that this must be the Time to prepare for the _ after Death : And 1 1 us, * _ Fancies do l Ulccb. 3. 7 8. but harden the Heart, As the Holy Gbost saith , To Day if ye-will —— 0 bear his Voice, harden not your Hearts. 11 as e 1 7 . 3. Purgatory hath no Warrant from Scripture ; for we cannot find one clear and plain Word to establish it upon. We read, that if we shall be sav’d, so as by Fire”, with great Difficulty, as when : Men escape burning. And we are inform’d, that our Lord © shñll. * come in flaming Fire, taking Vengeance upon those that know not % God, and obey not the Gospel ”. We are assur’d also there is a Fire in Hell, which cannot be extinguish’d or put out. But as for this purging Fire, which is to cleanse the Souls of Men after Death, we read not one word of it: But on the contrary, are instructed to trust in the Heb, 9.14 Blood of Jesus, as alone able to purify the Soul. How much more 1 shall the Blood of Jesus purge your Conscience from dead Works, to serve the Living God! 5 vel 3 4. This Purgatory is rather repugnant to the Word of God, or 1 contrary to it. For that represents this Life to be the Time for Pu- rification; “ Every one that hath this Hope in him, purifieth him- if A self” : This present Day to be the Day of Salvation ; © Behold t this is the accepted Time, behold this is the Day of Salvation: Nik And the same Word tells us, that without Holiness no Man shall see I the Lord; and that every one in his own Body shall answer at 0 the Day of Judgment, for what was done in the Flesh ; and that ce every one shall then receive, according to that which he hath done in the Flesh, whether it be good, or whether it be evil“. And therefore Purgatory 1s repugnant to the Word of God, and there can be no Pardon obtain’d by enduring the Flames of it; for Heb. 10 14. it is by Christ that we must be sav d. ho by one Offering bath per- fected for ever them that are sanfified.

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II. The next fond Things are Pardons. or Indulgences, which are promis’d to those that visit such a Saint or Chapel, or say fo many Prayers to the Virgin Mary, Our Church cannot endure that ye f should be gulled with such filly Fancies ; and calls these,

il 1. Fond, Silly, Trifling, and not worthy of Regard. For as Purgatory 1s a meer Invention, those Pardons which are granted for [ the Ease or Relief of Souls in Purgatory , must be of the sane Na- bl; . 1 Y

i ture: For as there is no such purging Fire, the Pardons must be no i less than counterfeit. For indeed there 1s no Forgiveness, but by | Faith in Christ, and true Repentance ; and the Promise of that 1s

Akt. 2. 38. 97 8 us upon our Baptism, Repent and be baptig d for the Remissuen 0 ins, | |

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Thirty Nine ARTICLES. 147

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. These Indulgences were vainly invented, set up, and promis’d Article upon no Reason, that a Christian may rely upon, For admitting XXII. that the Pope engages, that whoever repeats so many Prayers in uc a Place, shall deliver one or more Souls out of Pyrgatory ; What Ground hath he for it > Or why may we believe him, more than another Man? For he promises that which he hath no Power to give. Tis a vain Invention to get Money, to enrich himself, or to carry on his own Designs, as he did to carry on the Holy War. In vain do they worship me, teaching for DoErines the Traditions of war. 15. 9. Men. „. Bo ED

3. These Pardons have no Warrant from Scripture : For we read of no Pardons to be had there, but for those that are alive up- on Earth in the Way to Eternity ; for those who truly repent, and believe in Jesus, behaving themselves according to his Gospel. But as for the Dead, they are under no Capacity of altering their State: If in Time of Life they obtain’d their Pardon, *tis well for them; if not, © as the Tree falls, so it lies; and as Death left them, Judg- ment shall find them; and there is no Wisdom, or Contrivance in the Grave ”, which may relieve them. Their surviving Friends may pity them, and be too credulous in their Behalf, may purchase Masses, and do their best (as they think) to relieve them; but all in vain, for as they died, they must come forth to Judgment. And j,, 3. 25 shall come forth, they that have done good, unto the Re surrection of Life, and they that have done evil, unto the Resurred ion of Damna- tion. THE 1 4. These Pardons are rather repugnant to the Word of God: For that declares, that this is the Time to go to Jesus, for Pardon and Rest: Come unto me now, whilst it is call’d to Day, and I © will give you rest” So that it is now or never that our . is to be secur’d and seal’d to us; and that Word further assures us, that there can be no Pardon, but according to the Terms of his Gospel. So that if Men might repent, believe, and obey in the other State, there might be a Possibility of gaining their Pardon; but since there is no such Alteration to be made in the Grave, in vain such Pardons are recommended to poor Sinners, who had much better repent and amend in this Life, than run such vast Hazards upon a mere Fig- ment and Imagination: For, Neither is there Salvation in any other, for there is none other Name under Heaven given amongst Men ( but

that of Jesus Christ) whereby we must be saved.

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AR. 4. 12.

III. The third fond Thing which our Church warns you against, is, the Worshipping of Images, and Relicks, the Likeness of God, his Son, or a Saint; and the Teeth, Nails, Hair, or Garments, suppos’d to

have been the Saints; for such Things are called Relicks.

1. These are fond and silly Conceits, not worthy of your Re- gard: For is it not a vain Undertaking, to take a Piece of Wood, and bring it into the Shape of a Man; and then to burn the Chips, and worship the Remainder ? Or 1s it not filly, to take a little Paint, and with one Part to colour a Sign-Post, and with the other to draw the Face of a Saint, and then to fall down and adore it? Our

U 2 own

an EXPOSITION of the

Article own Reason scorns such Trifling : For one Part of the Wood, or

Paint, is no more to be worshipped than another; and ‘tis not the

Name of a Saint, that can make it otherwise. Isaiah expos’d this

Isa, 44. 1 6,1 7.

Matt. 4. 10.

1 Joh. 5.21.

1 Cor. 10: 7,

Fondness, in his Time. He burneth Part thereof in the Fire; be rosteth Rost, and the Residue thereof he maketh a God, even bis gra- ven Image. He falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it; and pray- eth to it, and saith, Deliver me ; for thou art my God.

2. Images were vainly invented for Divine Service; for we may worship God very well without them : We may adore him as a Spirit ; serve him in Truth, according to his Greatness, without leflening his Majesty, and appointing Wopd or Stone ta be his Re- presentatives, or to share in his Adorations : He will not allow, that

his Glory should be given to another, or his Honour to graven J- mages. And as it is below his Immense Essence, to be set forth in the mean Figures of Wood or Stone; it is an Abuse of his Wor- ship and Presence, to allow such Trifles to vye with him in his Ser- vice, or to share in any Adorations : For thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. NE

3. Such Images are not grounded upon any Warrant of Scri- pture ; for that Holy Book 1s against ny OR from the Be- ginning to the End. Tis true, God did command, that the Fi- gures of Cherubims should be made to cover the Ark with their Wings ; but no where allows, that they, or any otter should be worshipped. What tho’ Diseases were cured by Handkerchiefs ta- ken from St. Paul’s Body? It is not said, that for that Reason they may be had in Veneration, or worshipped, We stretch Scripture too far, if we think we may worship that, which was made use of in working a Miracle; for then the Clay and Spittle, which open’d the Eyes of the Blind, might be ador d. The Command is as ex- press, as Words can make it: * Thou shalt not make to thy felt

• any graven Image: Thou shalt not fall down, and worship it ”. And whoever, under the Pretence of Honouring God, will, af- ter this, presume to make, and worship an Image, cannot defend him- self by the Word of God. Little Children, keep your selves from Idols. |

4. The Worship of Images, is rather repugnant to the Word of God, or rather done in plain Defiance to it. The Second Com- mandment, just mention’d, 1s plain. Thou shalt not bow down ce to them, nor worship them. And because this Commandment is so clearly against it , some Roman Catechisms have it not ; for it speaks too plainly against their Practice: And the Priests do not think fit that the People should know, that God has forbid that ve- ry Image-Worship , which they commend. As for Relicks, the _ Scripture informs us, that the Body of Moses was hid, that the I/

raelites should make no Relicks of it, as is prefum’d, considering the Proneness of that People to Idolatry. Under the Gospel, we axe as much engag’d against gary as ever. Neither be ze Idolaters, as were some of them. Dearly beloved, flee from Idolatry. 12

2 IV. The

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Thirty Nine ARTICLES.

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IV. The last fond Thing, which our Church blames in Rome, is the Invocation of Saints; or, the making our Prayers and Suppli- cations to them.

1. Our Church looks upon this as a fond, and unprofitable Ser- vice. For what can be more vain, than to call upon those as Saints, which we are not sure are in Heaven ? Or if we chuse out those, that we have Reason to think are there ; what can be more 14le, than to call upon those, which we are not sure can hear us ? Or if they might hear us; what can be more impertinent, than to call upon those, who may not have the Power to help us? But is it not most vain, to call upon such, and to negle& to call upon God him- self ; who has commanded us to Pray, promis’d to hear us, when we pray to him in his Son’s Name; and engag’d to fulfil our De- fires ; who alone has Power to hear us all, to answer all Petitions, and to send us Help from above? Is it not unreasonable , to call upon the Servant, when God himself invites us, to come and pray to himself ? Call upon me in the Day of Trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

2. This Invocation of Saints was vainly invented, and allow’d in Practice. For to what Purpose should we pray to the Servants, when we have Liberty to speak to the Master of the House 2 Or for what Reason should we Petition the Saints, when we may go directly to God ? | confess, the Names of Martyrs and Confessors

Article

XXII.

Psa!. 50. 15.

were commemorated at the Altar; but there is a vast Difference be-

tween a plain Commemoration, and Adoration. We may make men- tion of the Names of Saints with Honour, whilst we abhor to worship them. I may admit too, that those that are Saints in the Church Triumphant, may pity us in the Church Militant, and wish well to us : But we may not worship them, or call upon them as present ; for they are in Heaven, too far to hear; and we are up- on Earth, at too great a Distance to make them hear. Povubtless thou art our Father, tho Abraham be ignorant of us, and 1. (or Ja- cob) acknowledge us not. Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Re- deemer ;, thy Name is from everlasting.

3. This Practice of Calling upon Saints, is grounded upon no Warrant of Scripture : For where is it written, that Saints may be pray’d unto ? Or that ny good Men call’d upon those that were dead, to help them > Did David ever call upon Abraham, to help him; or upon {saac, to befriend him? Or did Daniel ever call up-

on any of the dead Prophets, to relieve him? *Tis true, we are to pray for one another in the way, and to help forward one another’s Salvation, by mutual Supplications. But when we are remov’d from

hence, the Case is alter d: The best may not be call’d upon, or pe-

tition’ d. We know not their State; neither may we break in up—

on their Retirements. We can have no Encouragement to offer up any Petition, or to depend upon them for the Performance. *T’is only to God we must pray, and then if we ask we {hall receive. For every one that asketh, receiveth, and he that feeketh, findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall b2 opened.

4. Such

Isa. 63. 17.

Mat. 7, 8.

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Article XX ANY

An EXPOSITION of the :

4. Such Invocation of Saints is rather repugnant to Scri- pture. For if we will in this Case be guided by God’s Word, we have Reason to think, that the best of Saints may not be in any Capacity to hear, answer, or to assist us; for they are but Spirits, whose Understandings are finite, and limited, and bounded,

and who are not capable of hearing Complaints from Ten Thousand

Act. 2. 14.

Petitioners and Places, at one and the same Time, and cannot

answer the Expectations of all; *tis the Prerogative of God to be present every where, and to be Omnipotent. As therefore Abru- bam is represented as ignorant of us, we may by the same Rule believe, that the rest are as ignorant, and as unlikely to help us, and that it is safest for all to pray to God alone in the Name of his Son, and to trust to him for an Answer or Blessing. David is

not ascended into Heaven: And if not there, tis imprudent to pray

to him, or 1 other.

From this Care of our Church 10 snew you the fond and dange-

rous Practices of Popery, I must appeal to you whether she can

be leaning that Way; and whether she is not fit to be trusted with your Souls. 1

1. Ye see with what Care our Church discovers the fond and dangerous Practices of Rome, how sincerely she sets before you the

plain Matters of Fact, and how uprightly she condemns them

Jude v. 16.

as repugnant to the Holy Scriptures: After this honest Dealing, can shebe represented as warping towards Rome, or as hastening to Po- pery? Does she in any Respect return to the Errors sne hath re- nounc’d, or approve of that she fairly warns you against? Or can it be imagin’d, that whilst she declares her Mind fo clearly against these Errors, she privately retains a good Inclination towards them, and wants only an Opportunity to profess them? When can it be thought that a Church is in Earnest, if ours is not clear and unfeigned in these Points? Are not our Articles her Declaration? Do we not openly profess, that we acknowledge this to be her genuine and real Sense? And after all, must she be suspected as inclin’d to Rome, and favouring that dangerous Church 2 As we have cast off all that was bad and dangerous

in that Church, I hope we may retain the Bible, which they handed to us , without partaking of their Sins ; and govern our selves by it, without incurring the Suspicion of being inclin’d that Way. And as the Word of God will justify us, we think we are in Sobriety farther from Popery than those that accuse us. These are Murmurers, Complainers, walking * their own Lufts , and their Mouth speaketh great swelling Words, ha-

ving Men’s Persons in Admiration because of Advantage.

2. Ye may see how 2 our Church is to be trusted with your

Souls, and with what Reason she may challenge your Respe& and Affection; for she does not frighten you with Purgatory , but with Hell-Fire : She promises no Pardon, but in the Blood of

Christ,

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Thirty Nine ARTICLES. 161

Christ, upon our Faith and Repentance. She dire&s you to wor- Article ship God, and deters you from all Images and Pictures: She tez- XXII. ches you to be Saints and to call upon God alone for Mercy ana

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Acceptance; andꝭ as she thus speaks the Truth in Jesus, she deserves your Love, may lock for your Assistance, and may depend upon her genuine Sons for Support and Peace. Remember 7 the Words which were spoken before of the Aposiles of our Lord Fesus Christ; how that they told you there should be Mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly Lifts.

Jude 17.

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A EXPOSITION of the

Article XXIII.

Va a